Queens finished first half with undefeated record while Kings score 100-plus points in third consecutive game
Red Deer, November 25, 2023 – The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings and Queens cap off the 2023 calendar year with two big wins over the Olds College Broncos on Saturday evening.
See below for more information regarding each game.
Queens Basketball – Olds College Broncos 24 at Queens 89
The Queens picked up where they left off last night as they managed to score 30 in the first 10 minutes while holding the Broncos to just seven with 13 of the Polytechnic's points coming off turnovers. Olds College had their opportunity to put a few more points on the board but they just could not capitalize on their chances in the paint.
In the final ten minutes of the half, the Broncos continued to dominate the paint in their offensive zone but could not make any of their chances drop in the basket and were held scoreless for the entire second quarter. It was a very low-scoring quarter with the Queens scoring 15 points and taking a 45-7 lead into the second half. Forward Peighton Melton (Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies) had a team-high 10 points at the half with forward Kristen Dyck (Open Studies) leading the Broncos with four points.
Point guard Bree Hagen (Business Management) finally hit a jumper to score the Broncos first two points since the nine-minute mark of the opening quarter. Olds College were able to double their first-half score and dropped a total of nine points in the third but still found themselves down 69-16 as they went into the fourth quarter.
Olds College was held to just eight points while the Queens dropped 20 in the fourth quarter on their way to the team's 10th consecutive victory. With the 89-24 win, RDP heads into the Christmas break undefeated and sits in first place in the South Division.
Head Coach Avery Harrison explained the team did everything that we wanted them to do tonight.
"Last night we struggled from the free throw line. We lead the league in free-throw attempts but we are near dead last in free-throw percentage. Tonight, I asked the team to shoot better from the free-throw line and we did just that. Some games will come down to who's better at sinking free throws so it is important for us to be better from line moving forward."
The players of the game were awarded to Broncos Meghan Swartz and Queens Janai Hubert (Bachelor of Kinesiology). Swartz finished with 13 rebounds and eight points while Hubert picked up another double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The Queens and Broncos will get a much-needed break as the student-athletes prepare for final exams of the 2023 Fall Term. Olds and RDP will return to action on January 12 with the Broncos hosting the Medicine Hat College Rattlers and the Queens welcoming the Lethbridge College Kodiaks.
Kings Basketball – Olds College Broncos 81 at Kings 102
The Kings were able to get another 30-point quarter under their belt but backed by guard Peter Adonri (Open Studies), the Broncos managed to score 18 points and went into the second quarter still very much in the game.
It was a very low-scoring first five minutes of the second with just 16 points combined between the two teams. But it was not for a lack of chances, both teams just could not get anything to drop in the paint when they were given those primary and secondary opportunities. Forward Bobby Lacy (Business Administration) did his best to bring some energy to the Broncos as he had not one but two dunks in the second. In a closer quarter, the Kings narrowly outscored Olds College 19-18 to take a 53-36 lead into the second half.
Adonri had a game-high with 15 points at the half while the Kings were led by guard Efe Iyamu (Open Studies) who picked up 13 points after the first 20 minutes of play with teammate Deandre Rowe (Open Studies) right behind him with 11.
In the third quarter, the Broncos finally were able to outscore the Kings but only by two points. Olds College went into the final 10 minutes of the game down by 15 points with the Kings leading 78-63.
The Kings would run away with it in the fourth on their way to a 102-81 victory.
Head Coach Jedell Foster explained he liked what he saw out their in the victory and he thought it was a good way to finish the first half of the season but believes they got to be more disciplined.
"We finished the first half of the season with a 9-1 record which places us at the top of the South Division standing. We played well offensively as we scored over a 100 points for the second consecutive night against the Broncos. But we were not disciplined. We fouled way too much tonight and that will need to change going forward."
The players of the game were awarded to Broncos Peter Adonri and Kings Lucas Kuprowski (Bachelor of Kinesiology). Adonri finished with a game-high 31 points while Kuprowski had seven points and three rebounds.
The Kings were led by Rowe who finished his night with 21 points with Iyamu right behind him with 20 points.
The Kings and Broncos will have the next month and a bit off from game action. They will both return on January 12 with RDP hosting the Lethbridge College Kodiaks and the Olds College Broncos welcoming the Medicine Hat College Rattlers to central Alberta.